Laurence Fishburne staying on "CSI"

LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) - The leader of the “CSI” team will stay in charge for another year.

Laurence Fishburne has renewed his deal to remain on “CSI: Crime Scene Investigation” through the 2010-11 season.

In the upcoming Season 10 finale of the veteran CBS crime show, Fishburne’s character, Dr. Raymond Langston, will face off against two serial killers in a battle of wits that will conclude in a life-and-death cliffhanger. One villain is played by Matt Ross (“Big Love”) in a guest-starring role. The other is Bill Irwin, who reprises his role as Nate Haskell, the Dick and Jane Killer. Also in talks to guest star in the finale, veteran actor Marty Ingels.

Fishburne took over for William Petersen two seasons ago in one of the richer casting deals on TV. The series is averaging 15.9 million viewers so far this season. Last season, it averaged 18.8 million viewers. CBS said in August it would give Fishburne “a wardrobe makeover,” citing research that showed viewers wanted to see him more comfortable in his clothes.

During the summer, Fishburne will appear in Robert Rodriguez’s “Predators” reboot and next year will appear in Steven Soderbergh’s “Contagion.” He also will be starring onstage in “Thurgood” in Washington and Los Angeles.